Blind spacer fastener

ABSTRACT

Blind fastening means for fastening thin materials together without crushing them. Such means comprises a blind rivet sleeve, a blind rivet pin provided with a head to engage the blind end of the sleeve, and spacing means provided intermediate the blind end of the sleeve and the head thereof. As the head of the pin is drawn against the blind end of the sleeve an enlarged blind head forms at the blind side of the materials being fastened while the spacer means engages the interior side of the uppermost of the materials being fastened whereby to prevent crushing of such materials. In one instance the spacer means comprises a spacer sleeve. In a modification the spacer means comprises a second enlarged blind head. The various enlarged blind heads may be achieved in several ways.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional application of prior continuation application Ser.No. 796,538 filed on May 13, 1977 in the name of the same inventor andentitled BLIND SPACER FASTENER; the prior continuation application Ser.No. 796,538, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,608, is a continuation of the thenpending prior application Ser. No. 632,498 filed Nov. 17, 1975 in thename of the same inventor and entitled BLIND SPACER FASTENER, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The blind spacer fastener of this invention offers a large potential inmany areas wherein a given space is desired or required betweenstructures being fastened. One such area is in sheet metal buildingswhere a foam spacer is used between the top sheet and the insulationblanket. Where the insulation blanket is resting on the roof support,often a purlin, the foam provides a spacer which is non-metallic betweenthe top sheet and the support. Fasteners installed in this mannerprovide the possibility of attaching the top roof sheet without crushingthe insulation blanket which would cause an insulation value loss ofapproximately 30%.

The fastener also has application when fastening honeycomb and the liketo structural components so that the honeycomb structure will notcollapse.

It is not necessary, however, that there be any material between the topand bottom sheets to which some other item is to be fastened; suchfastener could, for example, be used to fasten something to a thinwalled metal tubing.

In general the fastener concept of this invention may be utilized inthose applications wherein it is important to keep the upper sheet(s) adesired or even a prescribed distance from the lower sheet(s). Otherexamples include foam filled panels, honeycomb panels, balsa wood panelswith metal/plastic sheets, and stand-off where no material is betweenthe upper and lower sheets. Other uses for this inventive concept willno doubt occur to those to whom the invention is made known.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A search of the prior art as represented by U.S. patents relating tothis subject matter was conducted and the following U.S. Pat. Nos. werelocated:

3,078,002

3,512,328

3,055,255

3,230,818

3,667,340

3,789,728

3,797,358

3,640,361

Although it was the intent of the search to locate the art closest tothat to which the invention is directed, no assertion is made that thepatents listed are indeed representative of the best art.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,078,002 illustrates a blind fastener for honeycombstructure. While a number of embodiments are illustrated, in generalthey comprise a blind rivet pin or stem mounting a rivet head, a spacersleeve and a lower cylindrical portion. Upon the pulling of the stem,the sleeve will cause the lower cylindrical member and the head todeform against the outer skins of the honeycomb, the sleeve serving as aspacer.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,512,328 illustrates a fastening device comprising aplastic screw 5, a blind rivet nut 4 and an additional screw 11. Thisreference illustrates the deformed portion 8 of blind rivet nut 4.

As indicated the search also turned up applicant's U.S. Pat. No.3,230,818 which illustrates a blind rivet, the rivet sleeve of which isprovided with longitudinal slots. U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,340 teaches afastening device comprising a slotted sleeve 4 and a screw 27. Theslotted sleeve permits lateral extension thereof.

Somewhat similar fastening means are set forth in the remaining patentsbut they do not appear to be closer than those discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one of the applications illustrated, a roof support, by way ofexample a purlin, is shown surmounted by a plastic backing sheet,fiberglass insulation and a top sheet. Between the fiberglass insulationand the top sheet there is an additional foam spacer. The top sheet,foam spacer, fiberglass insulation and plastic backing sheet areprovided with coaxial perforations having a diameter equivalent to theoutside diameter of the spacer sleeve. The purlin, on the other hand, isprovided with a coaxial perforation having a diameter equivalent to theoutside diameter of that portion of the blind rivet sleeve having thelongitudinal slots formed therein. The blind rivet pin is inserted inthe blind rivet sleeve. A neoprene (or other suitable material) sealwasher may be mounted on the blind rivet sleeve adjacent the headthereof in those applications, for example, where water tightness isrequired; such washer, however, may sometimes be omitted. The spacersleeve is mounted on that portion of the blind rivet sleeve having thelongitudinal slots therein. This entire assembly is placed through theabove structure. A pulling force on the blind rivet pin causes thatportion of the blind rivet sleeve containing the longitudinal slots todeform outwardly and engage the underside of the purlin. At the sametime, the spacer sleeve is spread at its upper end by a shoulder on theblind rivet sleeve and engages the underside of the top sheet. By thisarrangement the purlin and surmounting structure are joined togetherwith the spacer sleeve serving to prevent crushing of the foam spacer.The blind rivet pin may then be broken off at a point of weakening tocomplete installation of the fastening device, the blind rivet sleeveand blind rivet pin also being staked together near the head end of thepin. The load limits provided in association with pin break-off, coupledwith the spacer arrangement, insures that the desired spacing to preventcrushing is in fact realized.

The second embodiment of the blind fastener of this invention is similarto the first embodiment with the exception that the spacer sleeve hasbeen eliminated together with the shoulder on the blind rivet sleeve. Inplace of the spacer sleeve, the blind rivet sleeve is provided with aregion of weakness, as by a second set of longitudinal slots near itsheaded end. The material of the blind rivet sleeve between these slotsis thinner than the material between the slots first described. In theuse of this embodiment, the hole or perforations through the top sheet,foam spacer, fiberglass insulation, plastic backing sheet and purlin canall be of the same diameter, that is, the diameter of the blind rivetsleeve. During the fastening operation, the second set of longitudinalslots in the blind rivet sleeve enables outward deformation thereof, asby the folding over of sleeve material between the upper slots, whichengages the underside of the top sheet, prior to the formation of thelowermost bulb, serving the same purpose as the spacer sleeve of thefirst embodiment. Pin break-off loads and the stronger region at thelower, exterior end of the sleeve helps to insure this desired spacing.

The blind fastener of this invention may also be utilized wherein thereare no materials provided between upper and lower sheets, such as wouldbe the case, for example, when thin metal tubing is fastened to someother object. Either of the arrangements just reviewed may accomplishthis desired spacing depending on the slot locations, areas of weaknessand strength or other spacing means, and pin break-off.

Other possibilities have also been shown, by way of further example asto how the inventive concept may be used, as will be described ingreater detail shortly. One such possibility is to provide the interiorof an unslotted ungrooved main rivet sleeve with a portion which may bewiredrawn to form a bulb to pick up the underside of the top sheet, andwire drawing the free end of such sleeve to pick up the bottom side(exterior) of the bottom sheet. Desired spacing is achieved by providingthe exterior of the sleeve with a step or shoulder to engage the upperside of the lower member. A further possibility is to provide theexterior side of an unslotted, ungrooved main rivet sleeve with a rampmeans to wire-draw an unslotted, ungrooved spacer sleeve to form anexpanded portion to pick up the underside of the top sheet, again wiredrawing the free end of the main sleeve to pick up the bottom sheet. Ina variation of this last mentioned possibility the free end of the mainsleeve is slit, slotted or grooved to aid in the formation of lockingmembers to pick up the bottom sheet.

By way of further summary, the blind spacer fastener of this inventionprevents crusing of soft materials between sheets, i.e., honeycomb,insulation, balsa wood and the like, it provides a structural load pathfor shear and tension from the upper sheet to the support structure, itallows "stand-off" or controlled spacing of one sheet from another, andit allows a tight seal between the fastener head and the upper or outersheet without having to bear the load in the soft materials between thesheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of one form of a blindrivet pin that may be utilized in this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a spacer sleeve which may be used in thisinvention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of one form of a finished blind rivet sleevewhich may be used in the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, partly broken away, of the blind spacerfastener elements of FIGS. 1 through 3, partly installed in a typicalroof construction.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the fastener ascompletely installed.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and disclosing a headed stem for usein connection with a modification of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a modified fastener sleeve.

FIG. 8 shows the elements of FIGS. 6 and 7 partly installed in anarrangement wherein a thin walled tube is to be fastened to anotherelement.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing an intermediate conditionof the parts as installation proceeds.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 but showing the modifiedblind spacer fastener completely installed.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of one form of a finished blind rivet sleevewhich may be used in a modification of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of a modified blind rivet pin which may beused with the sleeve of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view, partly broken away, of the blind spacerfastener elements of FIGS. 11 and 12, partly installed in a generalizedapplication whrein it is desired to keep the upper sheet a prescribeddistance from the lower sheet.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the blind spacerelements of FIGS. 11 and 12 as completely installed.

FIG. 14A is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the spacer sleeve asslotted.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of a further finished blind rivet sleevewhich may be used in a modification of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a blind rivet pinwhich may be utilized with the modified sleeve of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation of a modified spacer sleeve which may beused with the rivet sleeve and rivet pin of FIGS. 15 and 16respectively.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view, partly broken away, of the blind spacerfastener elements of FIGS. 15 through 17 partly installed in ageneralized application wherein it is desired to keep an upper sheet aprescribed distance from a lower sheet.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but showing the modified spacerfastener elements of FIGS. 15 through 17 as completely installed.

FIG. 20 is a side elevation of another form of a finished blind rivetsleeve which may be used in another modification of the invention.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view, partly broken away, showing how themodified sleeve of FIG. 20 may be used in a generalized applicationdepicting how an upper sheet may be kept a prescribed distance from alower sheet.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21 but showing the spacer fastenerelements as completely installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the blind spacer fastener as utilized inconnection with a typical roof construction. It is to be understood,however, as has been earlier mentioned and as will be further explained,that the inventive fastener concept of this invention has use in otherapplications wherein it is important to keep one sheet a desireddistance from another sheet. As also illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3the fastener is comprised of a blind rivet sleeve 20 slotted asindicated at 21 and provided with an enlarged upper end 22, there beinga flare or ramp 23 between the portions 20 and 22. The sleeve 20 is alsoprovided with a head 24 which may have a crown 24a; this is optional andis usually omitted in the preferred embodiments. The fastener alsoincludes a blind rivet pin 25 shown as having a single break groove 26(in some instances more may be employed) and other indentations 27therein, and a head 28. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5 a spacersleeve 29 is utilized and this sleeve is provided with a series of slots30. A seal washer may also be utilized. (Only one break neck is usuallyneeded because the fastener controls the desired spacing and this isknown for the particular job to which it is applied.)

In the application of that modification of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, which Figures also disclose a representative use ofthe invention, a purlin 32 is shown surmounted by a plastic backingsheet 33, fiberglass insulation or the like generally indicated at 34,and a top sheet of roofing material 35. Between the compressiblefiberglass insulation 34 and the roofing 35 there is an additional foamspacer 36. The top sheet of roofing material 35, foam spacer 36,fiberglass insulation 34 and plastic backing sheet 33 are provided withcoaxial perforations having a diameter equivalent to the outsidediameter of the spacer sleeve 20 as measured at 22. The purlin 32, onthe other hand, is provided with a coaxial perforation having a diameterequivalent to the outside diameter of that portion of the blind rivetsleeve having the longitudinal slots 21 formed therein. Theseperforations are designated by the reference numerals 35a, 36a, 34a, 33aand 32a. The outside diameter of the spacer sleeve 29 is equivalent tothe diameters 33a through 36a.

To practice the invention, the blind rivet pin 25 is inserted in theblind rivet sleeve 20. The optional seal washer 31 is mounted on theblind rivet sleeve adjacent the head 24 thereof and the spacer sleeve 29is mounted on that portion of the blind rivet sleeve having thelongitudinal slots 21 therein. This entire assembly is placed throughthe above described coaxial perforations in the purlin and thesurmounted structure. A pulling force is exerted on the blind rivet pin25 as is known in the art and this causes that portion of the blindrivet sleeve 20 containing the longitudinal slots 21 to deform outwardlyto form a bulb or the like 20a which engages the underside of the purlin32. As this occurs, the spacer sleeve 29 is spread at its upper end bythe ramp or shoulder 23 on the blind rivet sleeve 20 and it then engagesthe underside of the top sheet 35, tightly pressing the sheet 35 againstthe underside of the fastener head 24.

In this manner, the purlin 32 and surmounting structure 33 through 36can be joined together with the spacer sleeve 29 serving to preventcrushing of the compressible insulation material 34 and foam spacer 36.The blind rivet pin 25 may then be broken off at the point of weakening26 as indicated at 26a. It will be understood that the lower end of thesleeve 20 may be staked to the pin 25 as indicated at 37.

A second embodiment of the blind spacer fastener is illustrated in FIGS.6 and 7. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment and likereference numerals will be utilized to disclose like parts. The chiefdifference is that the spacer sleeve 29 has been eliminated togetherwith the shoulder or ramp 23 on the blind rivet sleeve 20. In place ofthe spacer sleeve 29, the blind rivet sleeve 20 is provided with asecond set of longitudinal slots 40 near its headed end. Between theseslots 41 the sleeve 20 is provided with thinner walls or weakened areas41. In the use of this embodiment the perforations through the topsheet, foam spacer, fiberglass insulation, plastic backing sheet andpurlin, when such embodiment is applied as was the first embodiment inconnection with the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and 5, can all be of the samediameter, that is, the diameter of the blind rivet sleeve 20.

During the fastening operation, the second set of longitudinal slots 40,together with the weakened areas 41, all in the blind rivet sleeve 20enables outward deformation which produces a bulb or the like 41a (seeFIG. 9) which engages the underside of the top member, serving the samepurpose as the spacer sleeve 29 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1through 5.

As indicated, although not shown, the arrangement of FIGS. 6 and 7 couldbe used in place of the arrangement of FIGS. 1 through 3 and utilized inthe construction illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In such arrangement, thebulb 41a would engage the underside of the roofing material 35 first andthen the bulb 20a would form against the purlin 32.

The blind spacer fastener modification depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 isillustrated as applied to a construction wherein thin walled tubing 42is clamped to an element 43 and this is illustrated in FIGS. 8 through10. The fastener sleeve 20, stem 25 and washer 31 are assembled asbefore and inserted through axial perforations 42a and 43a which are ofthe same diameter as the sleeve 20. When the stem 25 is pulled in theusual manner, the slots 40 and weakened areas 41 will result first indeformation of the sleeve 20 to produce the bulb-like configuration 41awhich will engage the tubing 42 and prevent collapse thereof; continuedpulling of the stem 25 will thereafter cause formation of the bulb-likeconfiguration 20a against the underside of the element 43. In thisconnection it will be observed that FIG. 8 shows the combined sleeve andstem as initially placed through the tube 42 and element 43. FIG. 9illustrates the fact that the configuration 41a will form first, thisbeing an intermediate stage in the assembly operation. FIG. 10, ofcourse, illustrates the final assembly.

As earlier indicated it will be understood that when the modification ofFIGS. 6 and 7 is employed in a construction as illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5 the bulb 41a will first form against the underside of the roofing35 and the bulb 20a will then form against the purlin 32. In sucharrangement the open slots 40 and 21 in their respective locationsprovide blind side upset against the top sheet and blind side upsetagainst the purlin, thus providing a seal against the underside of thehead 24; this seal may be insured watertight by the use of the washer31.

From the foregoing description it will be further apparent that duringinstallation the upsetting pressure, in one instance, forces the sleeve29 up the ramp 23 so as to expand the sleeve 29 in such manner that itwould make contact with the top sheet as indicated at 30a (FIG. 5)forcing the top sheet 35 against the bottom side of the head 24 of thefastener thereby securing such top sheet tightly and allowing it to bewaterproof; in the other instance, the bulb-like configuration 41a wouldfirst engage the interior wall of the tubing 42 so as to force such tubeinto tight engagement with the underside of the head 24 to allow awatertight joint. In both arrangements such constructions preventdeformations which would otherwise occur, the first providing a spacewhere the low density foam material would not be overly crushed, and thesecond preventing collapse of the tube.

FIG. 3 illustrates a crown 24a on the head 24. The fastener may bemanufactured with or without this crown and examples of a crownless headare depicted in various of the FIGS. 4 through 22. In some instances thecrown on the head is used with multiple breakneck grooves to break thepin flush with respect to the top of the head of the fastener over alarger grip range. This, however, is not always necessary, particularlywherein other means are employed to break off the pin flush with the topof the head. In the arrangement of FIGS. 8 through 10, for example,wherein only a single break notch 26 is employed, and wherein the sleevebulbs at 41a to pick up the underside of the top member 42, no ramp orspacer sleeve being employed, the crown could be eliminated.

Similarly the arrangement of FIGS. 1 through 5 could be modified toprovide multiple break notches 26, noting again that a crown 24a couldalso be utilized if desired.

The crown 24a, although not preferred, does serve, when used, as a meansto initiate pin breakage at the proper notch 26 when multiple notchesare utilized.

The inventive fastener concept of this invention contemplates creationof a controlled space in that normally it is used wherein it is desiredto keep one sheet a prescribed distance from another sheet. In additiona water tight seal may be obtained exteriorly of the sheets by the useof the washer 31 which is engaged between the outer side of the topsheet and the lower side of the sleeve head. In some instances, however,the use of the washer 31 may be considered optional, particularly inthose instances wherein a watertight joint between the head and outersheet is either not desired or not needed.

The arrangements of FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modification of the inventionas applied to what has been termed a typical roof construction. As hasbeen mentioned herein, however, many other applications lend themselvesto the use of the spacer fastener concept of this invention. FIGS. 13,14, 18, 19, 21 and 22, therefore, are intended by the reference numeral50 to indicate generally the use of collapsable matter inserted betweena pair of sheets 51 and 52 which are to be maintained at a prescribeddistance from one another after the fastener has been completelyinstalled and so that the material 50 is not squashed beyond apredetermined amount.

The general arrangement, therefore, represented by the structuresdepicted at 50 through 52, is meant to illustrate the invention asapplied, by way of examples, to foam filled panels, honeycomb panels,and balsa wood panels with metal/plastic sheets; it will also beapparent to those skilled in the art that the spacer fastener conceptcould be used wherein there is no material 50 between the sheets 51 and52.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 14 a modification involving the basicspacer fastener concept of this invention will be described. Thefastener is comprised of a main rivet sleeve 60 having a crownless head61, the sleeve having a pair of coaxial bores 62 and 63 joined by a rampor beveled shoulder 64, and an exterior step or shoulder 60a; and arivet pin generally indicated at 65 and having a first diameter 66 and asecond diameter 67 joined by a ramp or beveled shoulder 68, the pinhaving a head 69 and a ramp 70. When the pin 65 is placed within thesleeve 60 as shown in FIG. 13 the pin portion 66 will be just nicelyreceived within the bore 62, the pin portion 67 will be just nicelyreceived within the sleeve bore 63, and the ramps 68 and 64 will be inengagement, the ramp 70 being at the end of the sleeve 60 removed fromthe head 61. The thus assembled sleeve and pin may then be placedthrough the members 50 through 52 and a washer 71 placed beneath thehead 61 if desired. Initially the step 60a will be spaced from the upperside of the lower sheet 52 as illustrated in FIG. 13. That portion 67 ofthe pin which extends beyond the head 61 outwardly thereof is thenengaged by a suitable tool as is well known in the art and the pin 65 ispulled so that the pin head 69 is moved towards the sleeve head 61. Thispulling action causes the step 60a to engage the upper side of sheet 52(FIG. 14) and such action also causes the ramps 70 and 68 to wire-drawthe sleeve 60 so as to form the bulb-like formations 72 and 73 wherebyto join the members 51 and 52 so as to effect a controlled spacetherebetween as determined by the location of the ramps 68 and 70 and bythe location of the step 60a. The pin is broken off adjacent the top ofthe head 61 and the finished condition will be as illustrated in FIG.14.

A further modification of the invention, also involving the same basicspacer fastener concept, is illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 19. Thefastener is comprised of three principal components, namely, the mainrivet sleeve 81, the rivet pin 82, and the spacer sleeve 83. The sleeve81 has a head 84 which may be crownless if desired, a first outsidediameter 85 and a second outside diameter 86 joined by a shoulder orramp 87. The sleeve 81 has a bore 88 of constant diameter. The rivet pin82 is of a constant diameter such as to just nicely be received withinthe bore 88 of the rivet sleeve 81 and the pin is provided with a head89 and a ramp 90. The spacer sleeve 83 is preferably unslotted andungrooved and is provided with a bore 91 to just nicely receive theportion 85 of the main rivet sleeve 81.

The members 81, 82 and 83 are initially assembled within the members 50,51 and 52 in the manner generally illustrated in FIG. 18; the washer 92is optional. The pin head 89 is then pulled towards the sleeve head 84in the usual manner. As this occurs the ramp 90 will wire draw the lowerend of the sleeve portion 85 with the result that the spacer sleeve 85will be moved up the sleeve ramp 87 thereby also to be wire drawn. Thisaction results in the protrubances 93 on the sleeve 83 and 94 on themain rivet sleeve 81 being formed whereby again to effect joining of themembers 51 and 52 with a controlled space therebetween which is filledby the substance 50.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 20through 22; this modification is generally like that of FIGS. 15 through19 and, therefore, like numerals will be employed to designate likeparts. The only difference in the arrangement of FIGS. 20 through 22 isthat the lower end of the main rivet sleeve portion 85 may be providedwith a plurality of slots 95; it is possible for the areas 95 simply tobe grooves or lines of weakness rather than actual slots cut clearthrough the rivet sleeve. The number of slots or grooves 95 is cutcritical; three or four slots will normally suffice although as few astwo might be employed. When the members are assembled as indicated inFIG. 21 and then forced to the finished condition illustrated in FIG.22, the spacer sleeve 83 will be forced over the ramp 87 so as to formthe wire drawn protuberance 93; in this instance, however, the lower endof the main rivet sleeve, rather than being wire drawn as indicated at94 in FIG. 19, is engaged by the ramp 90 on the rivet pin so as to formthe petal-like projections 94a defined by the slots 95 or grooves orlines of weakness as the case may be.

Although the spacer sleeve 83 of FIGS. 17 through 19 and 21 and 22 ispreferably unslotted and ungrooved, it is possible to provide it withslots, grooves or lines of weakness such as indicated at 30 inconnection with the sleeve 29 illustrated in FIG. 2. This would resultin petal-like projections similar to those just described in connectionwith the main rivet sleeve 81 of FIGS. 20 through 22 (94a) rather thanthe simple wire drawn protuberance 93 shown in FIG. 22.

It is believed that the foregoing constitutes a full and completedescription of the blind spacer fastener concept of this invention andvarious modifications thereof. It is to be understood, however, thatwhile several basic modifications have been illustrated, others mayoccur to those skilled in the art, all within the framework of theinstant invention. It is to be further understood that although theinvention has been described in connection with particular elements andarrangements, such elements and arrangements are not to constitute alimitation on the invention except insofar as they are specifically setforth in the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and what isdesired to be protected by Letters Patents is:
 1. A spacer fastener foreffectively joining a first member to a second member with a controlledspace therebetween which comprises: a main rivet sleeve having anenlarged sleeve head thereon to engage the outside of said first memberand a free end removed from said sleeve head; a rivet pin having a shankreceived within said main rivet sleeve and having a pin head thereonengaging said sleeve free end, said rivet pin shank including a pullportion with gripping means thereon extending beyond said sleeve head,said main rivet sleeve having a bore throughout its length which isconfigured so as to initially just nicely receive a major portion of thesaid shank; a portion of said main rivet sleeve towards said enlargedsleeve head being deformable to pick up the underside of said firstmember, said sleeve free end being deformable to pick up the outside ofsaid second member, both deformations to take place as said pin head isdrawn against said sleeve free end towards said sleeve head; an exteriorstep on said main rivet sleeve spaced from said sleeve free end andadapted to engage the upper side of said second member; and spaced meansto effect said deformations, said spaced means comprising an interiorramp in said main rivet sleeve towards said enlarged sleeve head, afirst pin ramp on said rivet pin in engagement with said sleeve interiorramp, and a second pin ramp on said pin head in engagement with saidsleeve free end; whereby when said pin head is drawn toward said sleevehead said step engages the upper side of said second member and saidfirst pin ramp forces said sleeve outwardly in the region of said sleeveinterior ramp to form a first deformation protuberance on said mainrivet sleeve to engage the underside of said first member, and saidsecond pin ramp forces said sleeve free end outwardly to form a seconddeformation protuberance on said main rivet sleeve to engage the outsideof said second member.
 2. The fastener of claim 1 in which axial slotsare provided in the said sleeve free end.